CVE-2012-3838 in Baby Gekko
Summary
by MITRE
Gekko before 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to obtain the installation path via a direct request to (1) admin/templates/babygekko/index.php or (2) templates/html5demo/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3838 affects Gekko versions prior to 1.2.0 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system paths to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the web application's directory structure and manifests when attackers directly request specific files within the application's template directories. The affected paths include admin/templates/babygekko/index.php and templates/html5demo/index.php, which contain installation path information that should remain confidential. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with potential attack vectors for subsequent exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access controls within the Gekko application's file handling mechanisms. When remote attackers access the specified paths, the application fails to properly restrict access to sensitive installation information that would normally be protected from direct web access. This occurs due to the application's lack of proper authentication checks and authorization controls before serving these files, allowing any remote user to retrieve the installation path information. The vulnerability is classified as a path traversal or information disclosure issue that violates the principle of least privilege and exposes system configuration details that could be used for further reconnaissance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial system configuration data that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker obtains the installation path, they can potentially identify the application's deployment structure, file locations, and system architecture, which significantly reduces the attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts. This information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation, remote code execution, or additional information disclosure vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and represents a foundational security weakness that compromises the overall security posture of systems running affected Gekko versions.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Gekko version 1.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this information disclosure vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls, restricting direct file access through web server configurations, and conducting regular security assessments of web application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests to sensitive paths, while establishing comprehensive monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information and T1566 for credential access through information gathering activities. Regular security updates and patch management processes are essential to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems.